Senate: yes or no?

After a bill has been adopted by the House of Representatives it is submitted to the Senate. The Senate examines and discusses the bill in great detail and may only adopt or reject it. The Senate does not have the right to make changes to a bill by proposing amendments.

A specialist committee of the Senate examines the bill. If so desired, a plenary debate follows. Eventually, the Senators vote on the bill. The Senate can only adopt or reject a bill. Senators cannot make changes to the bill, as they do not have the right of amendment. If the Senate has any objections against a specific part of a bill, it can reject the bill, although this rarely happens. If the Senate threatens to reject a bill, the Government can prevent this by introducing an amended bill, a so-called “novelle”.